Manhattan Beach Post is a hip and trendy outpost located in the Western part of Manhattan Beach, CA, in the area of Los Angeles known as the South Bay. A handsome establishment, it suits its neighborhood well, with lots of wood used in both the exterior and interior decor.

Inside, the atmosphere is buzzing and busy, yet I’ve never had to wait for a table at lunch. There are no reservations for lunch on weekends 2pm-5pm, so try to get there at 1:45 for a better seat – if the place fills up, people are seated at large “community” tables where it gets so loud you can’t even talk to the person you came with. They do take reservations for dinner, and brunch (before 1:30 on weekends).

Lunch is ordered family style. This is American comfort food, and the bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits set things off in a big way. One of my favorites of the meal, they were light but very textured, buttery and sweet.

The Tuscan kale and quinoa salad was very refreshing, made with roasted beets, pinenuts, tomato, goat cheese, and quinoa.

The burrata and roasted pepper sandwich was a winner, laced with green olive pesto and served with a side of the house’s fine chips.

The champion dish of the afternoon was undoubtedly the truffle honey laced fried chicken, served with kholrabi slaw. There were some excellent flavors present here.

Finally, the white oak grilled skirt steak with broccolini and red chimichurri proved a filling and hearty final course, one with robust presence.

Altogether, the lunch here is a knockout. The food is served hot and makes an impression. All the orders had a very quick turnaround time. For best results, make a dash to beat the crowd at Manhattan Beach Post just before 2pm on weekends.

At Slurping Turtle, Chicago’s place for Japanese comfort food, people only really wait for a table at night — dinner reservations here are taken only for parties of five or more. For a quicker bite, visit during lunch hours when there is virtually no wait for small parties.

Slurping Turtle is chef Takashi Yagihashi’s downtown counterpart to his flagship establishment,Takashi, in Bucktown. That original location offers a more refined, “white tablecloth” experience, whereas Slurping Turtle is geared more towards the younger professionals crowd.

Chef Takashi even has a branch at Chicago’s downtown Macy’s — check out Noodles by Takashi on the 7th floor.

As for Slurping Turtle, its downtown Hubbard Street location and slick minimalist decor definitely give it that “world-class city” feel. And like a top-notch eatery you’d find in Tokyo, it’s a very clean establishment, with friendly and attentive staff, and an excellent bathroom.

The duck fat fried chicken is as good as it gets. Cooked in duck fat as its name implies, this appetizer comes with a salad and dressing that looks like thousand island, but is actually a hot and spicy mixture that goes great with the fried chicken.

As can be seen, all the elements come together gracefully and successfully at Slurping Turtle. Add to that a team that is fun and down-to-Earth, and you’ll find an environment where the best dining experience is set to thrive for years to come.